Chapter 6 Lexi
Lexi
Ididn’t sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Axel on the ground, blood pooling under his cheek, that guy standing over him like he owned him. Like my brother was nothing.
The campus is quiet this early. Just the hum of streetlights buzzing out, the occasional car passing on the main road, the distant clang of the dining hall loading dock. My breath fogs in the cold air as I walk, hands shoved deep in my pockets.
I know where Axel will be. He mentioned the gym once, back when we still talked like siblings instead of strangers. Said he liked to work out early before classes, before the place got crowded.
I stake out a spot behind a row of bushes near the gym parking lot, far enough back that I’m hidden but close enough to see. The branches scratch at my arms through the hoodie. Dew soaks into my knees where I’m crouched.
And I wait. He’s ignoring me, so I’ve resorted to this.
Twenty minutes pass. Thirty.
Then I see him.
Axel walks across the parking lot, shoulders hunched, hands in his pockets. He keeps looking over his shoulder like someone’s following him. Maybe someone is. I wouldn’t doubt it because here I am, stalking my own blood. If he won’t talk to me, then he’s given me no choice.
He stops near the edge of the lot, checks his phone, and waits.
Five minutes later, a black Charger pulls in. Slow. Deliberate. The engine purrs like a predator.
My stomach drops.
The passenger window rolls down. I can’t see who’s inside, but I can see Axel’s face go pale. He steps closer, pulls something from his pocket.
Cash.
I can see the bills from here, crumpled and folded. He hands them through the window, his hand shaking so badly he almost drops them.
The guy inside takes the money. Counts it. Slow.
Then he reaches out and gives Axel’s cheek a little slap. Not hard. Just enough to make him flinch. Just enough to remind him who’s in control.
Axel steps back, turns, and walks away fast. Almost running.
I expect the car to leave. To drive off now that they have their money.
But it doesn’t.
The Charger rolls forward a few feet, then does a slow U-turn and parks in the far corner of the lot. The engine cuts off.
I watch as my heart pounds.
They’re just sitting there.
What the hell are they waiting for?
Five minutes pass. My knees are screaming from crouching, but I don’t move. I forget all about stalking Axel because this asshole in the black Charger has my full attention now. I need to know more about him.
Then the doors open.
Two guys get out. Both tall, both broad. One is wearing a black hoodie, the other a leather jacket. They look massive from where I’m standing. Much bigger and more intimidating than I remember from last night. They’re talking, low voices I can’t make out from here, gesturing with their hands.
The one in the leather jacket laughs. The sound echoes across the parking lot, sharp and cold.
They start walking toward campus.
I hesitate for half a second, then follow.
I keep my distance, staying behind without being suspicious. My heart is hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat.
They walk like they own the place. Shoulders back, strides long and confident. Students step out of their way staring at them like they’re celebrities.
They reach the main quad, and the guy in the leather jacket veers off toward another building—some admin hall or lecture building, I can’t tell from here.
The other one keeps walking. Straight toward the arts building.
I freeze.
Who do I follow?
The leather jacket guy is taller, visible, but the other one—the one in the black hoodie—he’s the one who slapped Axel. He’s the one who collected the money.
He’s the one I need to follow.
I pick up my pace, cutting across the grass to close the distance. He’s moving fast, and I’m terrified I’m going to lose him.
I round the corner of the arts building, trying to keep up—
And slam into someone.
Hard.
The impact knocks the air out of my lungs. I stumble, arms flailing, and use the brick wall to catch myself before I hit the ground.
“Shit. I’m sorry,” I gasp, trying to steady myself. “I—”
I look up.
And freeze.
It’s him.
He’s standing almost a foot taller than me, shoulders filling the space, blocking out the light. His hood is pushed back now, and I can see his face clearly for the first time.
Mute gray eyes stare down at me. Unblinking. Cold.
There’s a scar cutting through his left eyebrow, another along his jawline. Tattoos peek out from the collar of his hoodie—black ink, sharp lines. And his eyes... they have a glint in them that screams violence.
He doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink. Just watches me with the kind of stillness that makes prey freeze.
“Can I help you?” His voice is flat. Bored.
“Oh... uh...” My brain short-circuits. I can’t think. Can’t breathe. What the fuck am I going to say? What’s my excuse?
“You’ve been following me.”
It’s not a question.
I glare at him, trying to find my voice. Trying to find anything that resembles courage. I have to say something… anything… but I don’t know what.
“You’re not denying it,” he says, tilting his head slightly. “So what is it that you want?”
My heart races. I can feel the pulse in my neck, can hear the blood rushing in my ears. He looks even more dangerous up close. The scars, the tattoos, the way he stands like he’s daring me to run.
“How bad is it?” The words tumble out before I can stop them.
He raises an eyebrow. “Is what?”
“You know what.”
He stares down at me, and my stomach flips.
Those eyes make something twist inside me. Not fear. Something worse. Something that makes me think I can possibly hook my claws into him if I play this right. Get him to back off Axel.
We stare at each other for a long moment. The silence stretches, thick and suffocating.
“It’s none of your business,” he finally says.
I shake my head. “It is my business.”
“You want to make it your business?”
He stares down at me, and I know—know—this is a trick question. Is he asking if I want to join whatever the hell Axel’s doing? If I want to get wrapped up in this?
“Whatever you’re into, I’m not,” I say, lifting my chin.
“And how do you know what I’m into?”
I open my mouth to answer, then stop. My brain catches up to what he’s implying.
His gaze drops to my lips. Just for a second. But it’s enough to make my throat go dry. I swallow hard. His gaze is freezing me, over and over, layer by layer.
“A girl like you could never—”
“What do I have to do?”
The words are out before I can think them through. Before I can stop myself.
He stares at me. Really stares. Like he’s cataloging every detail, every micro-expression, every tell.
When he speaks, his voice is gentle. Almost kind. Which somehow makes it worse.
“The question is, how far are you willing to go to save your brother?”
The world tilts.
I harden myself. Brace. “Seriously how deep is he?”
His expression doesn’t change. “Too deep for you to claw your way to him.” He takes a step back. “Now, you’re making me late. Are we done here?”
“No.” I shake my head, stepping in front of him. “We won’t be done until you stop including my brother in your business.”
He stops. Looks over my head. Sighs like I’m the most exhausting thing he’s encountered all day.
“You’re like a parasite.”
“I can be your worst nightmare actually.”
He leans down. Close. So close I can smell cigarette smoke and something sharp, like peppermint. His breath ghosts across my forehead.
“I’d like to see you try, Lexi.”
My name.
He knows my name.
A fire ignites in my chest, white-hot and furious. He’s an asshole who thinks he runs the world. Who thinks he can just say my name like that and make me feel small.
He straightens and walks away.
I think that’s the end of it. Think I’ve lost this round.
Then he stops. Turns around. Looks at me over his shoulder.
“Meet me behind the rink tonight.”
I stare at him. “I’m not meeting you there.”
“Then say bye to your brother.”
“Is that a threat?”
He turns fully now, stares at me with those cold, dead eyes. “See you tonight, Lexi.”
Then he walks off.
And I’m left standing there, shaking with rage and fear and something I can’t name.
I storm off in the opposite direction, pulling out my phone with trembling fingers. I dial Thea before I even think about what I’m going to say.
She picks up on the second ring. “What’s up?”
“I’m meeting with him tonight.”
Silence. Then, “What do you mean?”
“I just talked to him.”
“You talked to him, Lexi? Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“I’m meeting him tonight, and I need you to follow us.”
“I’m not following you!”
“Yes, you are!” I’m walking fast now, cutting across the quad toward the lecture hall. “I’m late for class.”
“Late for class? It’s the first day! You’ll lose your scholarship—”
“I’ll tell the professor I got lost. It’s the first day. It’s fine.” I’m at the building now, pulling open the door. “I’ll see you tonight. Wear all black.”
“Lexi—”
I hang up. Shove the phone in my pocket. Take the stairs two at a time.
My hands are still shaking.
I find a seat and pull out my phone and bite my nails. I open up Axel and I’s text messages and start typing.
Lexi: Are you okay?
Nothing.
Lexi: Axel, please. We need to talk.
Nothing.
Lexi: I know you’re in deep shit, but I want to help. I can help.
Nothing.
By lunch, I’ve sent eleven texts. He hasn’t responded to any of them.
I meet Thea at her dorm for lunch. She opens the door looking exhausted, dark circles under her eyes.
“Come in,” she mutters, stepping aside.
Her roommate is on her bed, phone in hand, scrolling TikTok. She doesn’t even look up when I walk in.
“This is Lexi,” Thea says, jerking her thumb in my direction.
The roommate ignores us, eyes still glued to her screen. “Cool.”
Thea rolls her eyes, grabs two granola bars from her desk, and tosses one to me. We sit on the floor, backs against her bed, and eat in silence for a minute.
“So,” Thea finally says, keeping her voice low. “You really talked to him?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“And he’s terrifying.” I peel the wrapper off the granola bar, but I’m not hungry. “But I think I can work with that.”
“Work with that?” Thea stares at me. “Lex, you’re not—you can’t seriously be thinking about getting wrapped up in this shit.”
“What am I supposed to do? Just let Axel get his ass beat every day? The only reason I talked to him was because I was following Axel, and he met up with the guy this morning. Coincidence?”
“Maybe.” She looks away, picks at the wrapper in her hands. “Maybe you shouldn’t get involved. This is like really, really bad.”
“He’s the only family I have.”
“You still have your grandma.”
“That’s not what I mean.” My voice cracks.
I hate how weak I sound. “I can’t just..
. I can’t let him do this. I should’ve been there more for him.
After Mom died, after Dad left, I just—I shut down.
I focused on school, on getting out, and I didn’t care about him as much as I should have. I owe him this.”
Thea’s quiet for a long moment. Then she reaches over and squeezes my hand.
“You were a kid, Lexi. You didn’t leave him behind. You survived.”
“I left him alone with himself. I wasn’t there for him, and it eats at me every day.”
Her roommate laughs at something on her phone, and we both flinch.
Thea leans in closer, whispers, “If you’re really doing this, I’m coming with you. But if shit goes sideways, we run. Deal?”
I nod. “Deal.”
“And Lex?” She looks me dead in the eyes. “If this guy is dangerous, you need to be smart. Don’t trust him. Don’t believe a word he says. And for the love of god, don’t do anything stupid. Don’t trigger him. Don’t be rude. Dealers are bad news.”
I swallow hard. “I won’t. You know me. Nobody can get through to me when I’ve set my mind on something.”
She doesn’t look convinced, but she agrees. “Yeah.”
The rest of the day drags. Every class feels endless. Every minute is torture.
I check my phone obsessively. Axel still hasn’t texted back.
By the time the sun sets, my nerves are frayed, my stomach is in knots, and I’m second-guessing everything.
But I made a deal. And I’m not backing out now.
I pull on black jeans, a black hoodie, tie my hair back. Thea does the same.
We slip out of the dorm as the campus settles into evening—students heading to parties, couples walking hand-in-hand, groups laughing on their way to the dining hall.
We move through the shadows, silent, invisible.
The rink is dark and hulking against the night sky.
My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my teeth.
This is it.
No turning back now.
We reach the edge of the building, press ourselves against the brick wall. Thea’s breathing is quick and shallow beside me.
“You sure about this?” she whispers.
“No.”
“Great.”
I take a breath. Step around the corner.
And walk straight into the dark.